"My lady was kind enough to help your wife, why are you acting like this?" Xue Yan, supporting Xue Zining who had been pushed aside by Madam Li's maid, couldn't help but exclaim in anger.
"It's alright, Xue Yan," Xue Zining shook her head.
"Xiu'er, aren't you going to apologize?" Madam Li frowned and said sternly, looking at the maid named Xiu'er.
Xiu'er replied with dissatisfaction, "Who knows if it was intentional? My lady, you've encountered several like this today. If it weren't for the Master's sake, would they be so kind?"
Xue Zining's brow twitched slightly upon hearing this.
Madam Li's pale face showed a hint of a smile. She gently stroked her belly and said, "Whether it was intentional or not, if it weren't for this young lady, I might have fallen."
Xiu'er bit her lower lip, stepped forward, bowed to Xue Zining, and said, "Miss, please don't take offense. I was wrong just now."
"It's nothing, I won't mind. It's just that Madam, your complexion doesn't look good. Why don't you sit over there and rest for a while?" Xue Zining pointed to a nearby tea stall and asked.
Madam Li nodded, "Alright, Xiu'er, help me over."
Xiu'er helped Madam Li to the tea stall and asked the attendant for a bowl of plain boiled water, placing it in front of Madam Li.
After sitting down, Madam Li drank a few sips of plain water, and her complexion finally recovered.
Xue Zining also walked over and asked, "Madam, you don't mind if I sit here too, do you?"
Madam Li smiled, "How could I mind? If it weren't for you, young lady, I might have harmed the child in my belly today."
"Madam is blessed with good fortune, and the baby in your womb will also be safe and sound," Xue Zining comforted.
Madam Li felt that the young lady in front of her spoke very nicely. It wasn't exactly flattery, but her words made her feel happy from the bottom of her heart. This was her and the Master's first child, and she would protect it well.
"Madam, isn't that the Master coming over there?" Xiu'er excitedly pointed to a young man approaching on horseback in the distance.
Madam Li looked up, her gaze immediately softening. "Xiu'er, help me up."
Xiu'er stepped forward to help her up. She stood there, hand on her belly, smiling brightly, her eyes filled with tender affection as she looked at the approaching figure.
Upon reaching them, the young man dismounted, strode a few steps to the tea stall, bypassed his wife as if not seeing her, and walked directly towards the young lady standing there.
"Your Maj..."
"Master Li," Xue Zining spoke first, stopping Li Chenxuan from saying more.
Li Chenxuan then remembered that they were outside the palace, and the Emperor's identity needed to be kept secret.
"Miss Feng, what are you doing here?" Li Chenxuan's eyes showed surprise. Since the last time he saw the Emperor, he had only seen her from afar in court and had never been this close since.
"Master Li, congratulations!" Xue Zining said.
Li Chenxuan trembled all over, his joy slowly fading. "Thank you, Miss Feng."
"Master, do you know this young lady?" Madam Li stepped forward, looking at Li Chenxuan. She had seen how familiar her Master seemed with this young lady, and there was a feeling she couldn't quite describe.
Li Chenxuan nodded, "Yes."
Just one word, and nothing more.
Jiang Xinqin's heart grew cold, but she still asked persistently, "Master, are you here to see me?"
"With your pregnancy, you shouldn't move around so freely," Li Chenxuan said indifferently.
Jiang Qin's smile gradually faded. She felt a chill and bit her lower lip. "Master, it's still early in the pregnancy. I thought I'd come out for a walk now, but I won't be able to once it progresses further."
"You shouldn't move around so freely in the future," Li Chenxuan's voice carried a hint of coldness.
Jiang Qin felt a profound coldness in her heart, so much so that she shivered. Strangely, she remembered that he was also cold when she first met him. No, not just when she first met him; he had always been this cold. She thought he was always like this, but just now, when he looked at Miss Feng, his eyes were gentle, filled with warmth. Did he like that Miss Feng?
"Xiu'er, help Madam back to the mansion," Li Chenxuan said, leaving them and walking towards Miss Feng.
Xiu'er had also noticed something. She stepped forward and said, "Madam, Xiu'er will help you back to the mansion."
Jiang Qin did not refuse this time, complying with Xiu'er and letting herself be helped onto the carriage.
"Madam, don't overthink it. Since Princess Huimin left, the Master has been like this," Xiu'er said, looking at Jiang Qin's pale face and trying to comfort her.
Jiang Qin shook her head, "The way he looked at that Miss Feng just now was joyful."
"Madam, please don't misunderstand. There's nothing between the Master and that young lady," Xiu'er quickly said.
"I know there's nothing. The Master isn't that kind of person. Perhaps, he just keeps it in his heart and has never spoken of it."
"Madam..."
"I'm fine, I'll sleep for a while. Wake me when we arrive," Jiang Qin closed her eyes.
Seeing Li Chenxuan approaching, Xue Zining asked, "Aren't you going to see Madam Li off?"
"She has servants with her," Li Chenxuan replied.
"Chenxuan, congratulations. You've indeed been very swift," Xue Zining said with a smile.
Li Chenxuan lowered his gaze, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Once your child is born, I will bestow the finest rewards."
"Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty," Li Chenxuan said, cupping his hands.
"It's getting late, I should return to the palace."
"I will escort you..." Li Chenxuan looked up.
Xue Zining smiled, "You should go back soon too. Madam Li will worry about you. Think about how you'll explain it when you get back."
"I wish Your Majesty a safe journey!" Li Chenxuan said.
Xue Zining turned and left. Li Chenxuan, who had been looking down, raised his head and gazed at the young lady's retreating back, his eyes becoming much deeper. After a long while, he mounted his horse and left.
On the second floor of a tea house diagonally across, a person wearing a veiled hat sat there. She took the teacup handed to her by the man opposite, took a sip, and then spoke, "Li Chenxuan has feelings for Xue Zining."
The man opposite replied, "Li Chenxuan was once one of the Empress's consorts."
"Tsk, tsk, it seems old affections linger."
"Why did you approach Li Chenxuan's wife? I thought she was useless and couldn't help your grand plan at all."
The person in the veiled hat chuckled softly, "Don't underestimate a woman's jealousy. It can be deadly."
"Madam Li wouldn't. The other party is the Empress."
"That's why you're foolish. Otherwise, how could Feng Yinlun end up in this state?"
"Mocking me won't help your grand plan."
"It's enough to have a good chat."
The man looked at the person wearing the veiled hat and said, "As long as you are happy."
"I'm not happy. Seeing Xue Zining living so smoothly, so happily, with a home, a country, someone who loves her wholeheartedly, and loyal followers. I'm so jealous, insanely jealous. And what do I have?"
"You can have it too, as long as you defeat her..."